Toshiba today launched a new 1.12 micrometer pixel CMOS image sensor with a small pixel size, enhanced sensitivity and the improved imaging performance of back-side illumination technology (BSI).

The back-side illumination technology (BSI) sensors deploy lenses on the rear of the image sensor and not on the front, where wiring limits light absorption. Toshiba claims that this positioning boosts light sensitivity and absorption, and allows the formation of finer image pixels in smaller CMOS image sensors.

Toshiba's new CMOS packs 8.08 million image pixels with a pitch of 1.12 micrometers into a 1/4-inch sensor.

Toshiba expects BSI CMOS image sensors to become the mainstream technology in portable digital technology, with applications expanding from mobile phones and digital cameras to smartphones and tablets. Sampling of the new sensor will begin at the end of this month and mass production will follow from the end of 2011, Toshiba said.

Key features

Optical format: 1/ 4 inch
Number of pixels: 8.08 megapixels
Size of pixels: 1.12 micrometers
Frame rate: 30 frame per sec. (8M pixel), 60 frames per sec. (Supports 1080p, 720p)